Norwich City vs Barnsley (away) Saturday 10th December.

[GJP]

Should have gone when we got relegated. If not sooner. 

 

[rbf]

The games up for me.

I have backed Alex Neil, and I completely get what the board are trying to do in terms of longevity and stability, but yesterday was utterly inexcusable. Picked completely the wrong team and waited till we were two goals down to change it. Then admitted afterwards he felt pressure to pick the same team as the previous week, and feared a backlash if he didn't. What happened to the arrogant Alex Neil who would just go with his gut? And what happened to a coaching report against Barnsley, and maybe picking the right type of side, knowing they would bully us physically?

I have been to the last three away games, and genuinely saw signs of recovery, we were unlucky against QPR with the early sending off, but the overall play wasn't bad. Against Derby, I thought we actually played pretty well. Yesterday Alex Neil got it completely, and badly wrong. Yes it was better in the second half, but as usual, too little too late.

I mean Barnsley? Jesus Christ.

If we get badly rolled by Villa on Tuesday, in front of the TV cameras they have to let him go. Regardless of plans we are in absolute freefall, and I am losing confidence in Alex's ability to get us out of it. There are players that aren't doing him any favours, but unfortunately we can't sack them.

morty, it´s always easy to be wise after the event, even you yourself began this thread with ´unchanged side surely ?´, and anything else would have been shocking to say the least. Who, in their right mind, would have suggested anything else, after the 5 - 0 drubbing of Brentford - answer, no-one. The fact that Neil himself had actually considered it, in the run up to this match, is in his favour, the fact that he didn´t and showed faith in last week´s team, is also in his favour, he certainly couldn´t legislate for the fact that players like Howson and Pritchard, who were immense the week before, were pitiful yesterday. That seems to me to be the crux of most of our problems, dreadful inconsistency amongst the players.

In fact I can´t think of very many players in our current squad , with the possible exception of Olsson, who can put in a decent shift, week after week after week, whether home or away and irrespective of opponent. I know most people on message boards like to blame Neil for not motivating the players, but any half decent players, worth even a teaspoonful of salt, can and will ( and do actually) motivate themselves, without any help from the manager.

 

[Ben]

https://canaryreport.wordpress.com/2016/12/11/disappointing-form-continues-at-barnsley/ 

As difficult as it is right now, there needs to be more optimism at Norwich if they are to make the play offs. Second half performance shows that there is enough talent in the squad. Just need more desire and confidence than what was displayed this weekend. Crucial two home games next in front of the cameras. Still only two points off. Time to regroup! 

 

[morty]

morty, it´s always easy to be wise after the event, even you yourself began this thread with ´unchanged side surely ?´, and anything else would have been shocking to say the least. Who, in their right mind, would have suggested anything else, after the 5 - 0 drubbing of Brentford - answer, no-one. The fact that Neil himself had actually considered it, in the run up to this match, is in his favour, the fact that he didn´t and showed faith in last week´s team, is also in his favour, he certainly couldn´t legislate for the fact that players like Howson and Pritchard, who were immense the week before, were pitiful yesterday. That seems to me to be the crux of most of our problems, dreadful inconsistency amongst the players.

In fact I can´t think of very many players in our current squad , with the possible exception of Olsson, who can put in a decent shift, week after week after week, whether home or away and irrespective of opponent. I know most people on message boards like to blame Neil for not motivating the players, but any half decent players, worth even a teaspoonful of salt, can and will ( and do actually) motivate themselves, without any help from the manager.

Absolutely agree.

However I shall openly admit that I knew little about Barnsley, as we were in the Prem last year I watched virtually no Championship football. Alex Neil should have had a scouting report on them though, and picked a team accordingly. With the knowledge of them being a physical side why the hell would you pick 2 murphys and a Pritchard in the lineup?

I'm a fan, I said unchanged side based on what I saw the previous week, but I did that with no knowledge of Barnsley whatsoever. Its Alex's job to have that knowledge.

 

[Canaryboy]

Did you go to the Dove Inn before the game Morty? 

I was planning to go there but the bus which stops 50 yards from my house and delivers me right outside the Dove Inn within 15 minutes didn't turn up. I got off the next bus at precisely 3pm and then pegged it to the ground. 

Our paths would have crossed if things had gone to plan! 

Had a chat with the landlord after the game who was delighted with his days takings I think  :lol:

 

[rbf]

Absolutely agree.

However I shall openly admit that I knew little about Barnsley, as we were in the Prem last year I watched virtually no Championship football. Alex Neil should have had a scouting report on them though, and picked a team accordingly. With the knowledge of them being a physical side why the hell would you pick 2 murphys and a Pritchard in the lineup?

I'm a fan, I said unchanged side based on what I saw the previous week, but I did that with no knowledge of Barnsley whatsoever.  Its Alexs job to have that knowledge.

The fact that he was on the verge of changing a 5 - 0 winning side during the week, proves that he did have, morty, but I for one, can certainly understand his reasons for not changing it. Just at the moment, he´s buggered if he does and buggered if he doesn´t - Shades of Chris Hughton, I´m afraid, who incidentally, I would give anything for, to still be here.

 

[morty]

Did you go to the Dove Inn before the game Morty? 

I was planning to go there but the bus which stops 50 yards from my house and delivers me right outside the Dove Inn within 15 minutes didn't turn up. I got off the next bus at precisely 3pm and then pegged it to the ground. 

Our paths would have crossed if things had gone to plan! 

Had a chat with the landlord after the game who was delighted with his days takings I think  :lol:

No mate, the buses didn't arrive till about 1:30 and wasn't 100% sure which pub everyone was going to! Spent quite a few away games wandering round unfamiliar streets, looking at google maps, just to get to pubs to be told "Sorry mate, no away fans!" So opted to go straight into the ground, and had a rather good meat and potato pie!

 

[morty]

The fact that he was on the verge of changing a 5 - 0 winning side during the week, proves that he did have, morty, but I for one, can certainly understand his reasons for not changing it. Just at the moment, he´s buggered if he does and buggered if he doesn´t - Shades of Chris Hughton, I´m afraid, who incidentally, I would give anything for, to still be here.

Having watched it unfold in front of my eyes, sorry I can't excuse the decision, it was like men against boys.

He's not damned if he makes the right decisions, and wins games.

 

[Canaryboy]

No mate, the buses didn't arrive till about 1:30 and wasn't 100% sure which pub everyone was going to! Spent quite a few away games wandering round unfamiliar streets, looking at google maps, just to get to pubs to be told "Sorry mate, no away fans!" So opted to go straight into the ground, and had a rather good meat and potato pie!

I had a cheese and onion, best thing about the day. 

First thing I asked in the Dove Inn after the game, very quietly, was whether it was away fan friendly. "Hope so mate, because I let 300 of them in earlier"  :lol:

 

[Canaryboy]

Having watched it unfold in front of my eyes, sorry I can't excuse the decision, it was like men against boys.

He's not damned if he makes the right decisions, and wins games.

All I know is that I was actually expecting us to lose, and we did, so that's proof enough that I've given up on him.

 

[morty]

All I know is that I was actually expecting us to lose, and we did, so that's proof enough that I've given up on him.

I can take it when we lose, it happens, its part of football. But the contrast between the first half and the second highlighted just how massively tactically he got it wrong.

Reactive, not proactive.